For Mets fans hoping to see phenom Bryce Harper slip to the Amazin’s and the seventh pick in Monday’s First-Year Player Draft, we have a simple message for you: Don’t waste your time.

Harper, who got his GED last spring, should be a high school junior. But after hitting .417 with 23 home runs in a junior-college wood-bat league for the College of Southern Nevada, the 17-year-old slugger is ticketed for the Nationals, who have the top pick for the second straight year.

So where do the Mets go with their selection?

Given the organization’s track record at the top of the draft, bet on the Mets to take a college player. Since Omar Minaya took over as the team’s general manager after the 2004 season, the Mets have had six first or supplemental first-round selections, and with them took five college players.

Here are a few players the Mets could target:

Matt HarveyRHP, North Carolina

Harvey, the top-ranked high school prospect in the country at the beginning of 2007, had an inconsistent career with the Tar Heels. But the 6-foot-4 right-hander has had a strong season, going 7-3 with a 3.10 ERA, striking out 93 and walking 32 in 90 innings. Nevertheless, he’s not considered a lock to start in the pros.

“I think there’s a good chance, or at least a solid chance, that he could end up as a reliever,” Baseball America’s Jim Callis said. “But outside of the top two or three college pitching prospects, you could say the same thing.”

Zack Cox3B, Arkansas

Widely considered to be the draft’s best college hitter, Cox, a left-hander who hit .432 with eight homers and

47 RBIs for the Razorbacks, could be the position player

in this draft who makes it the quickest to the big leagues. But with David Wright already manning the hot corner, why draft a third baseman?

“You just don’t know,” ESPN.com’s Keith Law said. “David Wright could blow out a knee tomorrow and have to move to first base. Stuff happens. If you pass on the best guy because you don’t need him, and something unexpected happens, you’re gonna kick yourself forever.”

Deck McGuire

RHP, Georgia Tech

McGuire could be the fastest pitcher to the big leagues from this class. The 6-foot-6 right-hander, ranked seventh overall by Baseball America, has gone 8-3 with a 2.83 ERA this year for the Ramblin’ Wreck, striking out 105 and walking 27 in 99 innings.

“He’s got a track record of a lot of success,” MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo said. “He’s not the sexiest, highest-ceiling guy you’re gonna

find, but you also could probably get him to the big leagues very quickly.”

Wild card

After all of the talk about various college players the Mets could take with this pick, there is one player who potentially could change that trend: Manny Machado, a shortstop from Brito Private High School in Hialeah, Fla. Ranked second overall by Baseball America, Machado could slip to the Mets if the Pirates choose not to take him with the second pick.

But would the Mets be willing to spend the likely $5 million or $6 million in a signing bonus that it would take to sign Machado, after spending no more than $3.55 million (Mike Pelfrey) on any draftee in their history?

“I personally will believe it when they take a guy like that and pay him,” Callis said. “They’re a team that should be spending. . . . There’s no reason not to spend on the draft when you have the resources that they do.”

Bombers targets

The defending champion Yankees have the 32nd and final pick of the first round of this year’s draft. Here are a few players the Yankees could target with their selection:

Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Henderson (Texas) Baseball America rank: 43

Also Baylor’s top quarterback recruit. The right-hander’s fastball has been clocked at 95 miles per hour. He is 8-2 with a 2.33 ERA, striking out 96 and walking 18 in 54 innings this season.

Kyle Parker, OF, Clemson, Baseball America rank: 37

Not only did Parker hit .391 with 17 homers this year as a junior, he also was Clemson’s starting quarterback, becoming the first to throw 20 touchdown passes and hit 15 HRs in the same year.

Ryan LaMarre, OF, Michigan, Baseball America rank: 32

Athletic LaMarre hit .403 with seven doubles, five triples, five homers and 31 RBIs in 124 at-bats for the Wolverines. He missed 18 games early this season with a broken thumb.